North Metro
763-412-4290

South Metro
651-294-3620

Over 22 Years Experience

License #20626947
Bonded & Insured

Considering A Tile Roof?

Tiles Are Not Waterproof
(it's the underlayment that waterproofs your home)

You probably didn't know: cement or clay roof tiles do not provide the main waterproofing for your home. That's right, in a tile roofing system, it's the underlayment that does the primary waterproofing, not the tiles.(1) The tiles are there mainly as a decorative element. (In an asphalt shingle roof, the shingles provide the primary waterproofing-the underlayment is there as an extra layer of protection.)

Why is that important?

• If the underlayment in your tile roof fails, you will likely experience leaks and damage to your home and property
• Incredibly, most tile roofs use only one or two layers of thin tar paper as the underlayment!(2)
• Tile roofers know that this tar paper may need to be replaced in as little as 15 years-which means the tiles would need to be removed and reinstalled well before their advertised life span. Do you really want to deal with that aggravation?

Did You Know: Tiles Are Brittle-And Can Crack

Most homeowners think that, once their roof is installed, they won't have to worry about it again until it needs to be replaced. But remember, there are many times when you or a qualified repair person might need to climb onto your roof:

• Installing/repairing cable TV
• Trimming trees or branches
• Repairing siding or skylights
• Eliminating insects/pests
• Cleaning gutters or windows
• Installing holiday decorations

If You Live Where There Are Hurricanes Or Earthquakes, Beware

Because they are brittle, tiles are vulnerable to breakage from windborne debris. During a hurricane or even high winds:

• Tile can break and act like a projectile, causing further damage to people or property (or to other tile roofs)
• Tiles can slip out or blow off entirely due to poor fastening and cracked mortar(4)
• It is not uncommon for broken tilt pieces to break windows

Tile can weigh up to 400% more than asphalt shingles. On a typical home, that's like parking six SUV's on your roof! During an earthquake, tiles can become dislodged, so just hope you're not there to break their fall!

In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says that these problems can be so severe, that they do not recommend tile for critical or essential buildings in hurricane-prone areas.(5) Isn't your home "essential"?

A Tile Roof Will Cost You Money - BIG Money

If you haven't checked prices yet, you're in for a shock.

• Due to the excessive weight of the tile, special framing may be needed to install it on your home
• New framing can be a major expense, requiring engineering drawings and building inspection.
• The tile itself requires special installation that is particularly labor-intensive

All this adds up to a very expensive roof-up to 50% more than the installed cost of a premium designer asphalt roof.(6)

Homeowners Know Best

Given all of the drawbacks of tile roofing (and the advantages of asphalt shingles), it's little wonder that asphalt shingles dominate the roofing market.

Since 2000, asphalt shingles have grown from 76% of the market to 85%-while tile has fallen from 5% to just 3%.(7)

Clearly, as savvy consumers have become more knowledgeable about the risks associated with tile roofing, they have turned to asphalt shingles as the best and safest choice for protecting their biggest investment - their homes.

Sources:
1, 2 - National Park Service, Preservation Briefs, #30
3 - www.fixaroof.com
4 - Tile Roofing Institute
5 - FEMA, Technical Fact Sheet No. 21
6 - www.bobvila.com
7 - F.W. Dodge, 2006 Economics Forecast